Apparatus and method for preventing paper jams



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D. W. SAMES APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING PAPER JAMS Filed Feb. 7. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Delbert W. Somes AIIORNEI D- W. SAMES Oct. 28, 1969 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING PAPER JAMS Filed Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Delbert W. Sumes ATTORNEY 1969 D. w. SAMES 3,474,692

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING PAPER JAMS Filed Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet s Fig. 4.

- INVENTOR. Delbert W. Somes ATTORNEY D. W- SAMES APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING PAPER JAMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 7. 1967 [I3 I08 SWJOB INVENTOR I Delbert W. Some;

ATTORNEY SAY/20" 122 swlea' United States Patent 3,474,692 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING PAPER JAMS Delbert W. Sames, Conklin, N.Y., assignor to GAF Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 614,453 Int. Cl. B26d 5/20, 7/22 US. C]. 83-13 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to improvements in selectively supplying sensitized copy paper such as diazo type paper, from continuous multiple supply sources to a developing or reproduction machine and, in particular, to an improved and novel feeding and severing apparatus and method incorporating means adapted to preclude the feeding of sensitized copy paper from one or all of said supply sources during predetermined operating sequences of the apparatus.

Heretofore, in reproduction machines, it has been the practice to provide lengths of sensitized copy paper from a single supply roll, and with the paper severed into segments dependent upon the length of the original sheet to be reproduced. Generally, the maximum width of the original sheet, conventionally 19" wide, determined the width of the supply of sensitized copy paper furnished to the reproduction machine. This, however necessitated the wasteful trimming of the copy paper after developing or processing, when reproducing narrower originals, as for example, standard size 11" paper. Subsequently, apparatuses employing interchangeable rolls of sensitized copy paper, one of 11 width and the other of 19" width corresponding to the originals being processed, were introduced, to thereby prevent such waste of copy paper necessitated by trimming thereof. In practice this proved to be a cumbersome and inefiicient procedure, necessitating the frequent interchanging of partially used supply rolls of different widths of sensitized copy paper when the total length of the originals to be used at any particular time was less than the remaining copy paper available on the supply roll.

Recently, an improved apparatus and method has been developed in supplying different widths of sensitized copy paper from supply rolls. In essence, the apparatus utilizes two supply rolls of the copy paper, one roll of 19 inches in width and the other of 11 inches, which may be selectively and automatically actuated to feed predetermined lengths of copy paper which substantially correspond in width and length to the original sheet or reference desired to be reproduced. The apparatus is actuated by means of sensing devices or switches which are adapted to sense various characteristics, such as the leading and trailing edges and the widths of the original sheets passing through the apparatus. Actuation of the sensing devices by the original sheets will initiate feeding of the appropriate supply roll to thereby commence presentation of a length of copy paper in response to sensing of the leading edges and widths of the original, whereas subsequent sensing of the trailing edges of the original sheets will immobilize the actuated supply roll and cause a cutting or severing device to sever a portion of the presented copy paper essentially corresponding in length and width to the sensed original sheet. The selective method of employing supply rolls of copy paper adapted to supply sheets corresponding in size to the originals ameliorates or eliminates many of the disadvantages encountered in the prior art machines in an effective and commercially desirable manner. One such improved apparatus and method for selectively supplying copy paper from a plurality of continuous webs or supply rolls is disclosed in detail in the copending patent application of Robert C. Goodman and Delbert W. Sames, Ser. No. 593,534.

Although the aforementioned selective feeding and severing apparatus has proven itself to be quite satisfactory during operation thereof, problems have been encountered when original sheets are incorrectly supplied to the apparatus through inadvertence, by a careless or inexperienced operator. Generally, the problems have arisen when the original sheet is fed into the apparatus at an angle, which as a result will aifect the sensing sequence adapted to activate feeding of the appropriately sized web of copy paper while concurrently keeping the remaining Web supply rolls stationary. Insasmuch as the incorrect or angled infeed of the original sheet has frequently activated the sensing switches of the stationary supply rolls of sensitized copy paper because of the change in sensed characteristics thereof, the stationary supply rolls have at times been actuated during movement of the first activated supply roll of copy paper. This has caused copy paper jams in the apparatus, necessitating shut-downs and removal of the jammed copy papers from the interior mechanism of the apparatus, in effect, an economically undesirable disadvantage.

A further problem encountered has been the accidental actuation of one or both of the supply rolls of sensitized copy paper during periods when the severing device of the apparatus has been in its copy paper cutting sequence. Consequently, at times the copy paper thus inadvertently fed against the cutting blade of the severing device, has been known to jam up thereagainst, requiring shut-downs and servicing of the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel feeding and severing apparatus and method for selectively actuating one of a plurality of webs of a sensitized copy paper in response to the initially sensed conditions of an original sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding and severing apparatus and method as described herein and incorporating means to prevent inadvertent actuation of more than one supply roll of sensitized copy paper during a predetermined sequence of operation of the apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a feeding and severing apparatus and method for selectively actuating one of a plurality of webs of a sensitized copy paper, and incorporating sensing means responsive to sensed conditions of an original sheet and adapted to prevent jamming of the copy paper caused by the sensing of an incorrectly supplied original sheet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding and severing apparatus and method adapted to prevent inadvertent actuation of one or more of the copy paper supply rolls during the severing sequence of the apparatus.

These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet enclosing the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the positioning of such cabinet adjacent to a suitable reproduction machine;

FIG. 2 is a left side sectional view taken generally along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the lines 22 in FIG. 1, but showing the paper web cutter bar in actuated position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view taken generally along the line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view taken generally along the line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cutter bar actuating assembly viewed in FIG. 6, but having portions removed; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control circuit of the present apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a selective web feeding and severing device 1, may be enclosed within a suitable cabinet 2 and employed to selectively feed sheet material having different characteristics and of any desired length to a processing apparatus or reproduction machine 3. A reference sheet or original which is to be reproduced is passed in a superimposed relationship with a sensitized copy paper, such as, for example, a diazo type paper, to an exposure station, not shown, at which position, indicia on the original is fixed on the copy paper. Thereafter, the original is separated from the copy paper and the copy paper is forwarded through a developing station.

The device 1 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a freely rotatable shaft 4, which is adapted to support an upper supply roll of sensitized paper 5; a freely rotatable shaft 6, which is adapted to support a lower supply roll of sensitized paper 7; a paper web severing station 8; feeding means 9, for feeding a web of paper 10 from supply roll 5 to severing station 8; feeding means 11, for feeding a web of paper 12 from supply roll 7 to severing station 8; and a second station 13 for feeding and sensing an original or reference 14. Preferably, apparatus 1 is also provided with forwarding means 15 which is adapted to forward original 14 in superimposed relationship with a selected web of paper, as for instance web 12 viewed in FIG. 2, to an exposure station, not shown, provided within reproduction machine 3. Supply rolls 5 and 7 may be employed to hold 11 and 19" paper webs, respectively, which are suitable for use in reproducing originals of conventional 11" and 19" widths.

Any suitable means may be employed to guide paper webs 10 and 12 during passage thereof through apparatus 1. As by way of example, cylindrical rods 16 and 17 are employed to guide webs 10 and 12 to feeding means 9 and 11, respectively; pairs of plates 18 and 19 are employed to guide webs 10 and 12 passing from feeding means 9 and 10 to severing station 8, respectively; and a pair of plates 20 are provided to guide the webs passing from severing station 8 to forwarding means 15.

The previously referenced elements of apparatus 1 are mounted on a pair of spaced side supporting plates 21 and 22, which form part of a cabinet 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cabinet 2 includes front and top cover plates 23 and 24, which are affixed to respective side plates 21 and 22 in any suitable manner, not shown. An original sheet edge guide 25, which is aflixed to top cover plate 24 by means not shown, is adapted to cooperate with top plate 24 in positioning original 14, as the latter is presented by an operator to the original sheet feeding and sensing station 13.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the original sheet feeding and sensing station 13 generally includes pairs of upper and lower feed rollers 4 26 and 27, respectively; an original sheet guide plate 28; and a plurality of microswitches 29, 30 and 31 having original sheet sensing fingers 32, 33, and 34, respectively.

Preferably, as indicated in FIG. 5, lower feed rollers 27 are supported on spaced shafts 35, which are supported by bearings, not shown, provided in side plate 21 and top cover plate flange 36, and are adapted to be continuously driven by an electric motor. A motor may be mounted on side plate 21 in any suitable manner, not shown. Upper feed rollers 26 are shown as being supported on spaced shafts 38, which are mounted for free rotational movement within suitable journals mounted on side plate 21 and guide plate flange 39, respectively. Further, upper feed rollers 26 may, if desired, be spring biased downwardly to permit positive gripping and feeding of original sheet 14.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 guide plate 28 and top cover plate 24 are shown as being disposed in a parallel, vertically spaced relationship so as to define an original sheet guide slot 40, and as being punched out, as at 41 and 42, to permit roller pairs 26 and 27, respectively, to engage the opposite surfaces of the original sheet 14 passing throughthe guide slot 40. 1

It will be understood by referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 that the original sheet sensing fingers 32, 33 and 34 are adapted to project into guide slot 40 and to be selectively engaged by original sheet 14 as it is fed through the guide slot 40 by feed rollers 26 and 27, thereby actuating corresponding switches 29, 30 and Slim succession. The selection of the sheet sensing fingers and thus their respective switches depends only upon the width of such original. In this respect, it will be further understood that when the original 14, such as a tracing, is 'to' be reproduced, it is first placed on top cover plate 24 in such a manner that the side is in engagement with edge guide 25 and the leading edge, normally either 11" or 19" width, is placed within the front end of the guide slot 40. There after, an operator pushes the leading edge of the original further into the guide slot until the original is engaged by the first of each pair of feed rollers 26 and 27, which thereafter automatically feed the original toward forwarding means 15. It will be seen by viewing FIG. 4, that when feeding an 11" wide original, the leading and trailing edges thereof successively actuate switches 29 and 30.

When reproducing a conventional 19" wide original, it will be seen that the leading and trailing edges of the original successively actuate switches 29, 31 and 30. The switch arrangement described thus far, is particularly adapted to the sensing of originals having either of two pre-selected widths. However, it will be apparent that any desired number of original widths may be accommodated by providing additional switches at suitably spaced 'intervals between switches 30 and 31, and a corresponding number of additional paper supply rolls and paper web feeding means.

Paper web feeding means 9 and 11 are shown particularly in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. In that such feeding means are of identical construction, like elements are identified by numbers and prime numbers, respectively. Thus, reference is made only to feeding means 9, which is shown to include in combinataion: a sensitized paper web feed roll 43, which is adapted to be driven in a feed direction by an electric motor 44; a freely rotatable roll 45, which may, if desired, be spring biased towards roll 43 to insure proper gripping of the fed web; and a feed roll brake and return assembly, indicated generally by reference numeral 46 in FIGS. 5 and 6. Electric motor 44 is shown in FIG. 5 as being mounted on side plate 21 and as being selectively connected to roll 43, as by an electrically operated clutch 47.

The roll brake and return assembly is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as including first and second brake discs 48 and 49, which are keyed for rotation with a reduced diameter end portion of feed roll 43; a brake plate 50, which is journaled on the reduced diameter end portion of roll 43 and disposed between discs 48 and 49; a brake plate locking pin 51; a locking pin retracting solenoid 52; a brake plate motion limiting pin 53; and a brake plate return spring 54. A spring 55 is adapted to bias disc 49 towards the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, thereby tending to maintain discs 48 and 49 in frictional surface engagement with brake plate 50.

Motion limiting pin 53' is adapted to be received within a slot provided in side plate 22, shown only as 57 in FIG. 5, and is adapted to prevent pivotable motion of brake plate 50' beyond the position shown in phantom line in FIG. 6.

Brake plate return spring 54, which is connected to brake plate 50 through pin 53, is adapted to return the brake plate from the position shown in phantom to that shown in full line in FIG. 6, when, as will be more fully hereinafter discussed, clutch 47 is de-energized and locking pin retracting solenoid 52 is actuated.

It will be understood that locking pin 51 is normally biased towards an extended position by means of a spring 56 and that it is forced to move to a fully retracted position upon energization of solenoid 52. The structure described in reference to the roll brake and return assembly is for illustrative purposes only, it being understood that any desired means may be provided to brake, lock and return the driving roll 43 in the manner now to be fully described.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that upon energization of clutch 47, motor 44 is drivingly connected to roll 43 to effect rotation thereof in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2; to feed paper web towards severing station 8. Upon initiation of the driving rotation of roll 43, brake plate 50 is rotated from its rest position into its cocked position shown in phantom in FIG. 6 against the biased force of spring 54, by the frictional driving connection between the brake plate 50 and brake discs 48 and 49, whereafter the brake plate 50 is permitted to slip with respect to the brake discs. The force of locking pin spring 56 is sufiiciently light to al low locking pin 51 to be partially retracted as the brake plate 50 rotates, however, after'pin 53' reaches the end of slot 57, spring 56 acts to fully extend the locking pin to prevent return rotation of the brake plate from its cocked position. After a desired length of paper web 10 has been fed, which corresponds to the length of reference sheet 14, clutch 47 is de-energized and solenoid 52 is energized in a timed sequence, by means more fully hereinafter described, to first disconnect feed roll 43 from motor 44 and then retract pin 51 to permit the return of brake plate 50 to its rest position. Upon de-energization of clutch 47, brake plate 50 and discs 48 and 49 immediately cooperate to arrest rotation of feed roll 43 in its feed direction. Immediately after stopping of feed roll 43, solenoid 52 is energized to withdraw locking pin 51 from engagement with brake plate 50 to permit the latter to be returned by spring 54 to its rest position. Return motion of brake plate 50 causes rotation of the feed roll 43 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to withdraw the leading or severed end of paper web 10 from adjacent severing station 8 and position the web in the manner indicated at 10 in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, severing station 8 is shown as including a rotatably supported cutter bar 58 and a pair of spaced apart paper web guides 59 and 60. Guide 60 is adapted to cooperate with cutter bar 58 to shear a paper web presented thereto, such as paper web 12, when bar 58 is rotated in the direction indicated in FIG. 2 by arrow 61. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that cutter bar 58 is journale-d adjacent the ends thereof on side plates 21 and 22, and as having an actuating assembly, generally indicated as reference numeral 62, which may be supported on side plate 22 by a suitable bracket 63. From the drawings, it will appear that actuating assembly 62 includes a rotary solenoid 64 having a shaft 65, which is adapted to carry an arm 66 having a pin 67 disposed on the outwardly extending end thereof. It will be apparent from viewing FIG. 7, that pin 67 is adapted to engage a side surface of an arm 68, which is in turn affixed to a reduced diameter end portion of cutter bar 58. A spring 69 having one end affixed to side plate 22, as by pin 70, is adapted to normally maintain arm 68 in its rest or full line position shown in FIG. 7, and thus cutter bar 58 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that upon energization of solenoid 64, arm 66, and thus pin 67 are caused to move in the direction indicated by arrow 71 in FIG. 7 to move cutter bar arm 68 to the position shown in phantom against the bias of return spring 69. The phantom line position of arm 68 corresponds to the position of cutter bar 58 illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be understood that for the purpose hereinafter discussed, arm 68 shortly after or simultaneously with the severing of the paper web by cutter bar 58, is adapted to engage and deflect finger 72 to close microswitch 73. Upon deenergization of solenoid 64, spring 69 is free to return cutter bar arm 68 and thus assembly 62 to the full line position illustrated in FIG. 7, during which time switch 73 is permitted to open.

Forwarding means 15 is generally shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as including an endless transfer belt 74; a belt drive roll 75; and upper and lower guide rollers 76 and 77, which are adapted to deflect transfer belt 74 in the manner shown in the drawings to insure positive surface engagement of the paper webs with the conveyor belt and with the reference sheet. If desired, drive roll 75 may be powered by electric motor 37 through any suitable speed reduction transmission, not shown.

Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a guide member 78, which may be of any desired construction, is pivotably supported on guide plate 28, as by hinge pin 79, adjacent the outlet end of reference sheet guide slot 40. It will be apparent that member 78 functions to guide the leading portions of the original and the paper web, as they emerge from the outlet end of guide slot 40 and from between guide plates 20, respectively, into engagement with transfer belt 74 and subsequently into the nip 80 defined by the transfer belt and guide roller 76.

At this point, it will be understood that the linear speed imparted to transfer belt 74 by roller 75 is chosen to be slightly less than the linear speed imparted to reference sheet 14 and paper webs 10 and 12; it being also understood that the same linear speed is imparted to the original 14 and paper webs 10 and 12, so as to insure registration of the leading edges thereof as they are presented to transfer belt 74. Also it will be noted that, due to the presence of roller 76, belt 74 is slightly inclined in the direction of travel thereof. This, coupled with the fact that the paper web is forced to bend in passing over drive roll 75, produces a controlled instability in the superimposed original and paper web, which when the leading edges thereof enter nip 80, cause the controlled formation of a loop or bump 81. Thus, it will be apparent that the size of loop 81 increases in proportion to the length of paper web fed prior to the severing thereof, due to the difference between speed of belt 74 and the speed at which the original and paper web is forwarded thereto. As will become clear, the difference in such speeds is determined by the minimum loop size necessary to arrest the trailing edge of the paper web and thereby prevent tensioning of the paper web, during severing, when the forward end of the web is being positively transported between belt 74 and roller 76.

By permitting the formation of loop 81, it will be seen that the original sheet and paper web may be continuously forwarded by belt 74 through nip 80 without tensioning the paper web, and moreover the loop 81 permits the trailing edge of the paper web to be stationary during the operation of cutter bar 58. This arrangement is desirable from the standpoint that the original sheet and paper web need not be stopped for the cutting operation but may be continuously forwarded to and through an exposure station of the reproduction machine 3 at a constant predetermined speed to insure uniform printing.

Loop 81 is shown in FIG. 3 as being progressively reduced in size subsequent to the termination of paper web feeding, but is preferably not completely removed during the severing operation.

An electrical control circuit suitable for use in the practice of present invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8. Briefly, the circuit is shown as including coils 100, 101 and 102 for energizing original sheet and transfer belt drive motor 37 and paper web drive motors 44 and 44', respectively. Coils 100102 are energized from a suitable source of electrical power 104, when master switch 105 is closed by an operator. Further, the circuit is shown as including coils 106, 106 for energizing electrical clutches 47, 47'; coils 107, 107 for energizing locking pin retracting solenoids 52, 52; and coil 108 for energizing cutter bar actuating solenoid 64. Also, it will be seen that the contact arms of microswitches 29, 30, 31 and 73, are referenced in FIG. 8, as SW 30A, SW 30B,

SW 31 and SW 73, respectively, and are normally in the position shown when no original is present in the feeding and sensing station 13. The circuit also includes a bridge rectifier 109 having terminals A, B, C, and D.

Understanding of the operation of the electrical circuit shown in FIG. 8 may best be had by referring to the overall operation of the feeding and severing apparatus of the present invention.

To initiate operation of apparatus 1, an operator first closes master switch 105 to energize motors 37, 44 and 44' whereafter transfer belt 74 and original feed rollers 27 are driven continuously. Due to the normally open position of switch arms SW 30A, SW 30B, coils 106 and 106' of clutches 47, 47 are not energized and thus motors 44 and 44' remain disconnected from copy paper web feed rolls 43 and 43'.

Assuming in the first instance that supply rolls 5 and 7 carry paper webs of 11" and 19" widths, respectively, and that an 11" size original is desired to be duplicated, the operation continues as follows. The operator first places one edge of the original against edge guide 25 and guides the leading edge thereof forward into guide slot 40 to permit rollers 26, 27 to pick up the original and feed same towards the left, as viewed in FIG. 4. Immediately after feeding is initiated, the leading edge of the original engages in succession sensing finger 32 of microswitch 29 to move contact arm SW29 into engagement with contact 110, and sensing finger 33 of microswitch 30 to move contact arms SW30A and SW30B into engagement with contacts 111 and 112, respectively. The closing of arm SW30A on contact 111 establishes a circuit through bridge rectifier terminals A-B, coil 106 and bridge rectifier terminals C-D, whereupon clutch 47 is energized to drivingly connect motor 44 to roll 43 to feed copy paper web through severing station 8 towards transfer belt 74, whereby the leading edges of the original and copy paper Web are aligned with the original overlying the web, and loop 81 is formed. Upon initial rotation of roll 43 in its paper web feed direction, brake plate 50 is moved into its phantom line or cocked position and is locked therein by locking pin 51.

Feeding of paper web 10 continues until the trailing edge of the original disengages sensing finger 32 of microswitch 29 to move arm SW29 out of contact with contact 110 to break the circuit through coil 106 and into engagement with contact 113 to establish a circuit through bridge rectifier terminals A-B, solenoid actuating coil. 108 and bridge rectifier terminals C-D. Breaking of the circuit through coil 106, de-energizes clutch 47 to disconnect motor 44 from feed roll 43, thereby permitting brake plate 50 and brake discs 48, 49 to stop roll 43 and arrest motion of paper web 10. The establishing of a circuit through coil 108 energizes solenoid 64 which rotates cutter bar 58 to sever paper web 10; forward motion of the paper Web continuing during the period of the time required to rotate cutter bar into severing position, although the terminal end which is being severed is stationary because of loop 81. Sensing finger 32 of microswitch 29 is positioned with respect to severing station 8, so as to permit paper web 10 to be severed into a sheet length corresponding in length to the original to be reproduced.

Upon rotation of cutter bar 58 past its severing position, arm 68 which is carried on the cutter bar, engages finger 72 of microswitch 73 to close contact arm SW73 on contact 114 which establishes a circuit through coils 107 and 107'. The establishing of a circuit through coils 107 and 107' energizes solenoids 52, 52' to retract locking pin 51 from engagement with brake plate 50, thereby permitting spring 54 to return the brake plate to its original position. Due to the frictional driving connection between brake plate 50 and discs 48, 49 paper web feed roll 43 is counter-rotated to withdraw the severed end of paper web 10 from adjacent cutter bar 58.

Subsequently, the trailing edge of the original disengages sensing finger 33 of microswitch 30 to move contact arms SW30A and SW30B out of engagement with contacts 111 and 112 to break the circuits through coil 108 and coils 107'. Breaking of the circuit through coil 108 disengages solenoid 64, thereby permitting spring 69 to return arm 68 and thus cutter bar 58 to its initial position. During return of arm 68 to its initial position, finger 72 of microswitch 73 is released to permit arm SW73 to be disengaged from contact 114. Opening of either of arms SW30A or SW73 breaks the circuit through coils 107, 107 to de-energize solenoids 52, 52' and permit springs 56, 56' to return locking pins 51, 51' to their initial position.

When reproducing a 19" wide original, the operation of the electrical control circuit and apparatus 1 is substantially identical with that described with reference to the 11 wide original, except that the leading and trailing edges of the original actuates all three of microswitches 29, 31 and 30 in succession. Actuation of microswitch 31 acts to disengage arm SW31 from contact 115 and close it on contact 116. Thereafter, when microswitch 30 is actuated in the manner .described, a circuit is established through coil 106' to permit driving connection of motor 44' to feed roll 43.

The heretofore described selective feeding and sensing apparatus which is the subject of co-pending application of R. C. Goodman and D. W. Sames, Serial No. 593,534, may produce different types of paper jams, one type occurs if, for example, an operator inserts a second original in guide slot 40 during the severing operation, i.e. the period during which the trailing edge of the first original passes over sensing finger 32, butbefore it passes over sensing finger 33. In this event, a jam would result from the leading edge of a paper web, corresponding to the width of the second original, being fed against the knife 58. Therefore, to prevent this type of paper jam, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a relay coil 126 which is in parallel with coils 107 and 107' is energized when the microswitch 73 closes contact arm SW73 on contact 114, in a manner heretofore described, thereby disengaging a normally closed contact arm SW126 from a contact 128. Accordingly, both clutches 47 and 47 which couple respective feed rollers 43 and 43' to motor 44 are prevented from operating until the trailing edge of the first original has passed over sensing finger 33, at which time the knife returns to the starting position, whereupon relay coil 126 is de-energized to permit either clutch 47 or 47' to couple when activated to its respective feed roller. In another embodiment a microswitch 127', shown in phantom in FIG. 6, may be actuated by the motion of knife 58 to operate contact arm SW126' of FIG. 8 to deactivate the clutches in the same manner as described above.

Another type of paper jam which may result from usingthe apparatus described in the hereinabove mentioned patent application of Goodman et al., Ser. No.

593,534, is if an original sheet is fed into station 13 at an angle relative to guide 25, possibly because of the inexperience or negligence of the operator. In this instance both clutches 47 and 47 would couple to motor 44 whereby two webs of paper would be simultaneously presented at severing station 8 resulting in a paper jam. Thus, in accordance with the invention and referring again to FIG. 8, when contact arm SW 31 is in engagement with contact 115 (as shown in FIG. 8) and clutch 47 becomes energized by the passage of an original over sensing finger 33 as heretobefore described, a relay coil 120 in parallel with coil 106 is energized thereby disengaging a normally closed contact arm SW 120' from a contact 121, which is in series with coil 106, to prevent clutch 47 from becoming energized, and feeding the web of copy paper 12. If the incorrectly positioned original, by accident, actuates microswitch 31 to disengage arm SW 31 from contact 115 and close it on contact 116, during movement through station 13, a normally open contact arm SW 120", which is engaged to a contact 122 by the energization of coil 120, provides a hold-in circuit maintaining power to clutch 47 and relay coil 120 and preventing the possible actuation of clutch 47'.

In the alternate, when the contact arm SW 31 is initially actuated by the original to engage contact 116, clutch 47' becomes energized thereby causing the copy paper web 12 to feed through severing station 8. At this time, a relay coil 123 in parallel with coil 106 is energized thereby disengaging a normally closed contact arm SW 123' from a contact 124 which will prevent the other clutch 47 from being energized and consequently the web of copy paper is immobilized. As before, in the event that the contact arm SW 31 is accidently tripped during the aforedescribed sequence, a normally open contact arm SW 123" engaged to a contact 125 by the energization of coil 123, provides a hold-in circuit to maintain power to clutch 47' and relay coil 123 thereby preventing accidental actuation of clutch 47.

It should also be understood that the foregoing relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

'1. In an apparatus for selectively feeding and severing into sheets from one of a plurality of webs of a sensitized copy paper in response to sensing a plurality of physical characteristics of an original sheet, a first station comprising severing means adapted to sever a length of said material from said web, a second station having means for sensing the physical characteristics of said original sheet, a plurality of feeding means each including a web, wherein said sensing means includes means adapted to maintain the activated web feeding means energized and the other web feeding means stationary so as to prevent material feeding therefrom, irrespective of deviations from the initial physical characteristic of said original sheet being sensed by said sensing means.

2. In an apparatus for selectvely feeding and severing into sheets from one of a plurality of webs of a sensitized copy paper in response to sensing a plurality of physical characteristics of an original sheet, a first station comprising severing means adapted to severing length of said material from said web, a second station having means for sensing the physical characteristics of said original sheet, a plurality of feeding means each including a web, in which said sensing means. comprise a plurality of switches positioned in predetermined spaced relation at said second station for sensing the physical characteristics of said original sheet, said switches being adapted to selectively activate one of said web feeding means in response to said initially sensed physical characteristic of said original sheet and being adapted to maintain the other of said web feeding means in a stationary position irrespective of subsequent deviations from the initially sensed physical characteristic of said original sheet.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the deviations from the initially sensed physical characteristic of said original sheet are essentially variations of the distance from a base point to a side edge of the original sheet as the original sheet moves past the base point during presentation of said original sheet to said second station.

4. A method of providing a sheet of a sensitized material in response to sensed plural conditions of an original and inclding the steps of;

providing a plurality of webs of said sensitized material which differ from each other in at least one characteristic,

sensing plural conditions of said original,

utilizing at least one of said sensed conditions to select one of said webs to be used in forming said sheet of material on the basis of said one characteristic and maintaining said selection of web notwithstanding subsequent deviation from said characteristic, and

severing said selected web to provide said sheet of material having a length determined by another of said sensed conditions.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 in which said plurality of webs is maintained in stationary p sition in response to at least one of said sensed conditions during said severing sequence.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,182,539 5/ 1965 Williams 83205 3,185,066 5/1965 Mason et a1. 3,292,471 12/ 1966 Sames et a1. 83-203 FRANK T. YOST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 83-203, 272 

